[4.5/5] Set Sail The Prairie plays every statement-album gambit, from its cohesive storyline (each song documents a stop during a portentous year-long journey, as documented by a two-tiered tracklisting assigning each song date/destination coordinates) to its cinematic scope. Kaddisfly incorporate their narrator's transportation and location into the music, both overtly (locomotive chugs denote train travel) and subtly (using native instruments). Quirky wordplay challenges (say, running through the alphabet starting with "apostolic beliefs conjure") increase the degree of difficulty. Apparently, Kaddisfly wear ambition well. Using shimmering guitar jangles, layered harmonies and a few well-placed post-grunge detonations, Set Sail immerses listeners in its protagonist's trek. Kaddisfly's massive choruses release cathartic energy after elegant, wandering verses, turning esoteric phrases such as "fault isn't the emerald sky" into urgent sing-alongs. Christopher Ruff's tuneful vocals cast him as the perfect tour guide, his calming presence making the philosophically challenging lyrics and vast musical terrain less intimidating. (SUB CITY) Andrew Miller
 Official Website: http://www.subcity.net
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